Normally, the Notice of Allegations is the beginning of the end of an NCAA investigation. For Miami, it may simply be the beginning.
Miami received its Notice of Allegations last night, apparently just before tip-off of its basketball game against Virginia (the Hurricanes won 54-50). While Miami has not released the Notice of Allegations to the public, administration at the university has made its outrage quite clear.
It appeared this Notice of Allegations would arrive a month ago, before the NCAA launched an investigation into its own practices. With that saga set aside in the past week, the NCAA continued with its investigation into Miami, sans information obtained through means which violated NCAA policies. Members of their staff took part in Nevin Shapiro’s bankruptcy proceedings and used information obtained through those proceedings in the NCAA investigation.
On Monday, Miami president Donna Shalala expressed frustration in the investigation, saying the process, “demonstrated a disappointing pattern of unprofessional and unethical behavior.” She also argued the self-imposed sanctions by Miami, which include two postseason bans which prevented the Hurricanes from playing in the 2012 ACC Football Championship Game, should be enough suffering for the program, especially in light of the NCAA’s missteps.
As a private institution, Miami is not required to share the Notice of Allegations publicly. According to Michael Casagrande, we should not expect that to happen anytime soon. However, reports are saying that “lack of institutional control” is included in its contents.
Shalala again went on attack against the NCAA with Miami’s release last night in response to the Notice of Allegations. In it, Shalala claims that many of the allegations leveled against Miami “remain unsubstantiated.” Perhaps Shalala’s most damning argument against the NCAA is the charge that “Many of the charges brought forth are based on the word of a man who made a fortune by lying,” in reference to Shapiro. The release claims that the NCAA considered statements that Shapiro stated twice “corroborated.”
Without the ability to view the Notice of Allegations, it is difficult to know how much of Miami’s retort is factual rebuffing of the NCAA’s charges and how much is grandstanding in hopes of gaining public support. Bits and pieces may be revealed as other schools respond regarding former Miami employees named in the Notice of Allegations (see: Missouri head basketball coach Frank Haith). Jake Morton, a former Miami assistant basketball coach currently at Western Kentucky, has received a Notice of Allegations, for example.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to watch how this battle within the process evolves. In most investigations, the school under question is as polite as possible, in hopes of limiting the damage and not angering their judges (or perhaps resigned to their fate). Since the NCAA announced its errors, however, Miami has been on the offensive in its dealings with this investigation. How will Miami respond if the NCAA insists on further punishment? Will it be seen as caving to public pressure on the behalf of the NCAA if there are not, or simply acknowledging that Miami has sanctioned itself severely while waiting out the NCAA?
THE 600 CLUB: It took slightly longer than expected, but NC State baseball coach Elliott Avent now has 600 wins as the head man of the Wolfpack.
Sophomore Logan Jernigan and senior Ethan Ogburn combined on the mound for a four-hit shutout of the Charlotte 49ers, as NC State claimed a 5-0 win. Jernigan started the game, striking out five 49ers while allowing three hits, but only pitched four innings. Thus, Ogburn was credited with the win, pitching five shutout innings and allowing one hit.
Trea Turner led the offense for NC State. He was 2-3, with a double, two runs and an RBI. Turner also stole a base, putting his season tally at three in two games after stealing 57 bases in 2012.
With Avent sitting on 599 wins in Raleigh, it appeared No. 600 would come last weekend. NC State had originally planned to play three games against Appalachian State to start the season. However, Appalachian State claimed the opener, and inclement weather wiped out the remaining two games of the series. Tuesday’s game against Charlotte also had a late start, as rain delayed first pitch by 93 minutes. However, there was not enough snow and rain to keep Avent’s squad from claiming the milestone win.
The win was the 825th of Avent’s career overall. Avent coached for eight seasons at New Mexico State before taking the NC State job in 1997. During his time in Raleigh, the Wolfpack have reached 12 NCAA Tournaments and 3 NCAA Super Regionals.
Amazingly enough, Avent is only the sixth winningest active coach in the ACC. The conference boasts five 1,000 game winners in Mike Martin (Florida State), Jim Morris (Miami), Jack Leggett (Clemson), Mike Fox (North Carolina), and Danny Hall (Georgia Tech).
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Miami really ought to keep their mouth shut. There is no higher authority in collegiate athletics than the NCAA, so it’s not as if “going on the offensive” against the NCAA is going to make someone further up the chain step in and take control of things. The NCAA is the end of the line … so Shalala should keep quiet. God knows the NCAA is incredibly inconsistent in handing down rulings, but they have been known to go heavy on schools that disrespect them.